Royal Exchange Theater honored

Blethyn, O'Flynn take home acting awards

The Royal Exchange Theater, Manchester, emerged as the biggest winner at the 2008 Theatrical Management Assn. Theater Awards, announced Sunday at London’s Hampstead Theater.

Royal Exchange hat-trick saw Brenda Blethyn win performance in a play for her role in “The Glass Menagerie” and Kate O’Flynn take supporting perf in a play for “The Children’s Hour,” a production that also won the lighting nod for Mick Hughes.

Hosted by TMA and supported by the Stage newspaper, laurels recognize achievement in U.K. regional theater across art forms.

A special achievement in regional theater award went to Latitude, the groundbreaking, outdoor summer music festival that unexpectedly and successfully introduced theater to its schedule, hosting events in tents from companies including the Bush, the Royal Court and the Royal Shakespeare Company.